The benefits of mediation for businesses

Mediation is a voluntary process in which a neutral third party, the mediator, helps two or more people communicate and negotiate to reach a mutually agreeable resolution of a dispute. Mediation is often used to resolve business disputes, such as contract disputes, employment disputes, and shareholder disputes.

There are many benefits to using mediation to resolve business disputes, including:

• Efficiency: Mediation is generally more efficient than litigation. This is because mediation can be completed in a shorter period of time than litigation, and it does not require the parties to go to court.
• Cost: Mediation is generally less expensive than litigation. This is because mediation does not involve the costs of filing court fees, hiring lawyers, and preparing for trial.
• Confidentiality: Mediation is a confidential process. This means that the parties can discuss their dispute freely without having to worry about their personal information being made public.
• Control: The parties have control over the mediation process, including the agenda, the pace, and the outcome.
• Preservation of relationships: Mediation can help to preserve relationships between businesses. This is because mediation is a collaborative process in which the parties work together to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.

Here are some examples of how businesses have used mediation to resolve disputes successfully:

Example 1

• Two clothing companies, A and B, were engaged in a dispute over the terms of a contract. Company A had agreed to manufacture a line of clothing for Company B, but Company A was unable to meet the deadline for delivery. Company B was demanding liquidated damages under the contract, which would have cost Company A a significant amount of money.
• The two companies agreed to mediate the dispute. The mediator was able to help the two companies understand each other’s perspectives and develop a mutually agreeable solution. Company A agreed to pay Company B a reduced amount of liquidated damages, and Company B agreed to give Company A more time to deliver the order.

Example 2

• A company, C, and one of its employees, D, were engaged in a dispute over the employee’s termination. The employee alleged that she had been wrongfully terminated, and she was seeking back pay and reinstatement. The company denied that the termination was wrongful, but it was willing to settle the dispute to avoid costly litigation.
• The company and the employee agreed to mediate the dispute. The mediator was able to help the two parties reach a settlement agreement. The company agreed to pay the employee a severance package, and the employee agreed to drop her wrongful termination claim.

Example 3 

• Two shareholders in a company, E and F, were engaged in a dispute over the management of the company. Shareholder E wanted to sell the company, while Shareholder F wanted to continue operating the company. The two shareholders were unable to reach an agreement, and the dispute was threatening to paralyze the company.
• The shareholders agreed to mediate the dispute. The mediator was able to help the two shareholders understand each other’s perspectives and develop a mutually agreeable solution. The shareholders agreed to sell the company to a third party, and they agreed to split the proceeds equally.

If you are a business owner or manager and you are facing a dispute with another business, mediation may be a good option for you. Mediation can be a more efficient, less expensive, and more confidential way to resolve your dispute than litigation. Additionally, mediation can help preserve your relationship with the other business.